Baseball's Most Offensive Players Quiz

Answer: Ty Cobb

Cobb was a Tiger from 1905-1926, then spent his final two seasons as an Athletic. Ty batted over .400 three times in his career. Cobb, although respected for being a great player, was also a dirty player, sliding into bases spikes first. When Cobb died in 1961, only nine people attended his funeral services.

Answer: Frank Robinson

The others played their entire career in one league. Frank was the 1956 NL Rookie of the Year with the Reds. One MVP with the Reds, then another with the Orioles right after the Reds traded him, and he also batted for the Triple Crown in 1966 in his first Oriole season. Robinson retired with 586 home runs.

He led the league in home runs only once in 1966 with his 49. The hall took Frank in 1982.

Answer: Tony Gwynn

The others were not one-team players. Gwynn played his entire career with the San Diego Padres. In 19 of his 20 seasons he batted over .300. In 1994, Tony came so close to the .400 barrier, hitting .394 for the season. This was the highest batting average since Ted Williams hit .388 in 1957 for the Red Sox. Gwynn retired with a .338 career average while Williams had a .344 average.

Answer: Pete Rose

Wagner and Gehrig were not a switch-hitters. Although Mantle was a switch-hitter and batted for a Triple Crown, he retired with less than 2500 hits. When Rose put his bat down in 1986, he was the first player to reach the 4000-barrier with his 4256 career hits. Nicknamed "Charlie Hustle", Pete always tried to leg out that extra base.

He retired with the second most doubles in history with 746, only second to Tris Speaker's 792.

Answer: Ted Williams

The others didn't walk 1000 times in their careers. The Babe led the league 11 times with most walks and retired with 2062. Williams retired in 1960 with 2021 career walks, after being walked 75 times in 1960. Ted was pretty offensive, but not just in base on balls.

He hit 521 home runs, won six batting titles, two season MVPs, and two Triple Crowns. Many fans think that he was more offensive than Babe Ruth.

Answer: Carlton Fisk

Fisk's 1975 World Series shot came in the botton of the 12th inning for the Red Sox to tie the series at three each. The Reds would go on to win game seven. Fisk also hit a home run in game three. It was Carlton's only World Series in his career. Fisk was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2000 along with Reds and Tiger manager Sparky Anderson.

Answer: Jimmie Foxx

None of the others led the league in strikeouts like Foxx did, although Jackson retired number one with 2597. Reggie won only one season MVP. Jimmie played in 20 seasons, mostly for the Athletics and Red Sox, and retired in 1945. He hit 534 home runs in his career, and was the second player in history to hit 500, behind Babe Ruth. Foxx won his MVPs in 1932, 1933, and 1938.

He also batted for the Triple Crown in 1933.

Answer: Rogers Hornsby

Hornsby was possibly the greatest player in the 1920s, playing for the Cardinals, Giants, Braves, and Cubs. Everyone wanted his services. In three seasons he batted over .400, and retired with a .358 average. An easy induction to the Hall of Fame, they took him in 1942.

Answer: Ernie Lombardi

The others were not catchers and never won a batting title. Lombardi won his batting titles in 1938 with the Reds, then in 1942 with the Braves. His MVP came in 1938. Ernie led the league four times in double-plays, and retired with a career of 261, giving up two outs which was the number one spot when he retired in 1947.

He has since been passed by many. Ernie saw two World Series with the Reds, and split them 1-1. The Hall of Fame recognized Lombardi in 1986.

Answer: Wade Boggs

The others never played for the Red Sox. Boggs was a third baseman, won four batting titles, and was sent to the All-Star game 12 times in his career. He was also a Yankee. Wade also won two Gold Gloves. Wade and his wife were credited with writing many books on the cooking and health aids of eating chicken. The hall took Boggs in 2005.